Raglan & District Museum / Te Whare Taonga o Whaingaroa

Raglan & District Museum / Te Whare Taonga o Whaingaroa Preserving and telling the stories of Raglan / Whaingaroa The Raglan Museum first opened to the public in 1970, but its roots go back much further.

In the 1950s, local farmer Harvey Wright had a private museum at his Wrights Road home. Raglan artist Jenny Rhodes recalls looking over his collection when she visited the Wright home as a young girl. Later Harvey’s son, Whit Wright, one of the Raglan Museum’s early members, donated many of these items to the museum. In 1957, Mr WF Wallis, a grandson of the missionary James Wallis, presented the t

aiaha of Wiremu Neera Te Awaitaia to the Old Settlers Association. WF Wallis remembered this historic weapon hanging on the wall of his family’s Okete homestead when he was a boy. The taiaha was later presented to the Raglan Museum acting as the kaitiaki or guardian for the people of Raglan. Around this time an early photograph of James Wallis was given to the Raglan County Council and hung in the Raglan Council chambers, before being donated to the new museum. The Raglan Museum Society was established in 1966, following a suggestion made at a meeting of the Raglan Old Settlers Association. The original museum committee were Raglan community leaders, keen to see the history of the town and area kept alive for future generations. The first committee chair was Harold Orr, also a member of the Raglan Town Council, and local postmaster Bert Rhodes was secretary and treasurer. They were joined by 12 Raglan women and men on the committee. In 1967 the museum acquired its first item – an antique Waterbury wooden kitchen clock, donated by Coralie Gibbison of Raglan. The museum continued to increase its collection, and in 1970 the museum opened in its first location – a small room in the Raglan Town Hall. By the early ’80s, the museum was fast outgrowing this location, finally moving to the old fire station building in Wainui Road in 1982. The museum stayed at this location for 18 years. In late 2010, the old building was demolished to make way for a new museum building, especially designed for the museum’s needs. Construction began in 2010, with the building completed in August 2011. The museum reopened to the Raglan Whaingaroa community on 12 November 2011. Today the Raglan & District Museum is well established in its new building. With the i-Site information centre at the museum’s entrance, the museum is now open seven days a week, offering visitors a unique journey into Raglan’s history and culture.

Elephant rocks 1999
26/05/2026

Elephant rocks 1999

25/05/2026
Manu Bay, also known as 'The Point' is home to the Raglan Point Boardriders Club.  Formed in 1962, not many surfers live...
15/05/2026

Manu Bay, also known as 'The Point' is home to the Raglan Point Boardriders Club.  Formed in 1962, not many surfers lived in Raglan back then, but they had a club house at Manu Bay, and would make the trek from Hamilton for a surf.  Most Club members live in Raglan now.




14/05/2026
Waikeri is the original name for Manu Bay on the Whaanga Coast of Raglan Whaingaroa.  Waikeri was a Maori Kainga (villag...
14/05/2026

Waikeri is the original name for Manu Bay on the Whaanga Coast of Raglan Whaingaroa.  Waikeri was a Maori Kainga (village) and traditional fishing area.  The Whaanga Coast was first put on a map in 1642.  In the late 1800s Manu Bay was named after Manukapua Paekau, who lived on the land above the Bay.




Raglan Whāingaroa is known around the world for its waves, but for those who live here, the ocean is more than a destina...
28/04/2026

Raglan Whāingaroa is known around the world for its waves, but for those who live here, the ocean is more than a destination, it is home. The breaks, the coastline, and the culture that has grown alongside them shape daily life, creativity, and connection.

This exhibition brings together art and photography loaned by members of the Raglan community. The works reflect lived experience: changing light, pumping surf, quiet moments between sets, and the rhythms of a place cared for over generations. Shared at a time when Raglan is on the world stage, these images and artworks offer an invitation, to look closely, to appreciate what makes this coast special, and to treat it with the respect a home deserves.





24/04/2026

ANZAC Hongi No.1

ANZAC Day is this Saturday, and at this time of year, my artworks mean something extra to a lot of people.

So feel free to share my artwork, but please tag and reference me as the creator.

30/03/2026
RAGLAN POINT BOARDRIDERS TROPHIESThe Boardriders trophies now shine with the names of the 2025 champs (plus a few past w...
24/03/2026

RAGLAN POINT BOARDRIDERS TROPHIES
The Boardriders trophies now shine with the names of the 2025 champs (plus a few past winners finally added)!
A huge congratulations to the 2025 champs:
U14s: Jimmy Wernham
U18 Boys: Van Camenzind
U18 Girls: Alani Morse
Open Men’s: Jayden Willoughby
Open Women’s: Alani Morse
O30s: Malachi Farrant
O40s: Larry Fisher
O50s: David Van Staden
Longboard: Lynda Lim
Most Improved: Ayla Gee
It’s fantastic to see local talent celebrated and remembered on these iconic trophies, true pieces of Raglan surfing history.
Drop by the Surfing Exhibition in the Raglan Museum to check them out, and also see other Point Boardriders history!

Raglan Point Boardriders

Address

15 Wainui Road
Raglan
3225

Opening Hours

Monday 10am - 4pm
Tuesday 10am - 4pm
Wednesday 10am - 4pm
Thursday 10am - 4pm
Friday 10am - 4pm
Saturday 10am - 4pm
Sunday 10am - 4pm

Telephone

07 8258925

Website

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